Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?

Decision point

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?

1

Get theFacts

2

CompareOptions

3

YourFeelings

4

YourDecision

5

QuizYourself

6

Your Summary

Get the facts

Your options

Take radioactive iodine. It destroys part or all of the thyroid gland.

Take antithyroid medicine. It lowers the amount of thyroid hormone in your body.

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. If your hyperthyroidism is not caused by Graves' disease, this information may not apply to you.

Key points to remember

Most people will be cured of hyperthyroidism after one dose of radioactive iodine. The radioactivity in the iodine kills most or all of your thyroid gland. This usually leads to hypothyroidism, which means that your body makes too little thyroid hormone. When you have hypothyroidism, you need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

If you are pregnant or want to get pregnant within 6 months of treatment, or if you are breast-feeding, you cannot use radioactive iodine.

You can use radioactive iodine after you have been treated with antithyroid medicine.

Radioactive iodine is often recommended if you have Graves' disease and are older than 50, or if you have thyroid nodules that are releasing too much thyroid hormone.

Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism. It may also be a good choice if this is the first time you are being treated for Graves' disease, if you are younger than 50, or if your thyroid gland is only swollen a little bit (small goiter).

Antithyroid medicine does not damage your thyroid gland. But it doesn't work for everyone, and you may have a relapse.

You are younger than 50 and this is the first time you are being treated for Graves' disease.

You are pregnant, want to become pregnant within 6 months of treatment, or are breast-feeding.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks and side effects?

Radioactive iodine Radioactive iodine

You take one dose of this medicine.

Your symptoms start to go away in 8 to 12 weeks.

You will probably need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

Most people are cured after one dose.

Side effects include an inflamed thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) usually develops within a year. Because of this, you will probably need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

This treatment may make thyroid eye disease worse for a while.

Antithyroid medicine Antithyroid medicine

You take this medicine every day for 1 to 2 years.

If it works, your symptoms start to go away in 1 to 8 weeks. Your thyroid hormone levels may stay in the normal range even after you stop taking this medicine.

If it doesn't work, you can choose to take radioactive iodine.

The medicine is much more effective in people who have mild disease. Up to 30 out of 100 people in the United States will have their hyperthyroidism go away (go into remission) after taking antithyroid medicine for 12 to 18 months.footnote 1

Side effects include rash, itching, joint aches, liver problems, and being less able to fight infection because of a low white blood cell count.

Medicine doesn't work for everyone. Relapses are common.

Personal stories about treatment for hyperthyroidism

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

Who would have thought that the symptoms I was having were caused by my thyroid gland? I thought that they were just part of growing older. But after I decided to pay attention and wrote down how I felt and told my nurse practitioner, she did blood tests that showed that I had an overactive thyroid gland. Then she referred me to a doctor for treatment. I have never been a guy who liked to take medicine, so I opted to take radioactive iodine. I like the idea that I only had to take it once and then it was over and done with. Now I take thyroid hormone every day. But it's easy to take, and I just see my doctor once or twice a year for monitoring.

Harry, age 63

Some people tell me that taking radioactive iodine is the best treatment for my thyroid condition. But I don't like the idea of taking something that's radioactive. Maybe I am too cautious. My doctor tells me that the amount of radioactive iodine is so small that it doesn't cause problems. I just can't get past that word "radioactive." I have decided to take antithyroid pills. I don't think I'll have a problem with them. I have a pretty regular kind of life and take vitamins every day, so remembering to take another pill won't make a big difference to me.

Jesse, age 52

I took antithyroid medicine for my overactive thyroid about 2 years ago. I had trouble remembering to take the pills every day, and sometimes when I would go out of town to visit my family, I would forget to take my pills with me. Now, my thyroid is acting up again. I don't want to mess with pills. I worry that I might get some of those side effects from taking medicine. I have decided to take radioactive iodine. I know that I have a risk of hypothyroidism because of this treatment, but I am willing to take thyroid hormone pills if that happens.

Emilia, age 45

My neighbor Geraldo took radioactive iodine for his overactive thyroid gland, and his thyroid gland became underactive. So now he has to take thyroid hormones. I guess I'll just skip the radioactive iodine and take pills. Besides, my doctor tells me that because of my age I might even be able to stop taking the pills and never have to take them again. That sounds good to me.

Penny, age 35

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to take antithyroid medicine

Reasons to take radioactive iodine

I'm worried that radioactive iodine will damage my thyroid and I'll have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of my life.

I can live with the damage to my thyroid, because I know I can take thyroid hormone pills to treat it.

More important

Equally important

More important

I don't mind taking pills for a few years to see if that will fix my thyroid problem.

I want to get my thyroid problem taken care of quickly.

More important

Equally important

More important

I worry more about putting something radioactive into my body than about side effects of antithyroid medicine.

I worry more about side effects of antithyroid medicine than about putting something radioactive into my body.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Taking antithyroid medicine

Taking radioactive iodine

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.

Which treatment is more likely to cure hyperthyroidism?

Antithyroid medicineActually, the right answer is radioactive iodine. Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. But antithyroid medicine only works long-term in up to 30 out of 100 people who take it.

Radioactive iodineYou are right. Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. But this treatment isn't for everyone.

BothActually, the right answer is radioactive iodine. Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. But antithyroid medicine only works long-term in up to 30 out of 100 people who take it.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Compare Your Options." Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. Antithyroid medicine only works long-term in up to 30 out of 100 people who take it.

BothNo, that's wrong. Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts" under "Key points to remember." Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism.

3.

Which treatment eventually leads to hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) in most people?

Antithyroid medicineNo, the right answer is radioactive iodine, which works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, so they need to take thyroid hormone medicine.

Radioactive iodineYou are right. This treatment works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, so they need to take thyroid hormone medicine.

BothNo, the right answer is radioactive iodine, which works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, so they need to take thyroid hormone medicine.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts" under "Key points to remember." Radioactive iodine works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, which needs treatment.

Bahn RS, et al. (2011). Hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis: Management guidelines of the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Thyroid, 21(6): 593–646. Also available online: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/full/10.1089/thy.2010.0417.

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Compare your options

What matters most to you?

Where are you leaning now?

What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the Facts

Your options

Take radioactive iodine. It destroys part or all of the thyroid gland.

Take antithyroid medicine. It lowers the amount of thyroid hormone in your body.

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. If your hyperthyroidism is not caused by Graves' disease, this information may not apply to you.

Key points to remember

Most people will be cured of hyperthyroidism after one dose of radioactive iodine. The radioactivity in the iodine kills most or all of your thyroid gland. This usually leads to hypothyroidism, which means that your body makes too little thyroid hormone. When you have hypothyroidism, you need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

If you are pregnant or want to get pregnant within 6 months of treatment, or if you are breast-feeding, you cannot use radioactive iodine.

You can use radioactive iodine after you have been treated with antithyroid medicine.

Radioactive iodine is often recommended if you have Graves' disease and are older than 50, or if you have thyroid nodules that are releasing too much thyroid hormone.

Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism. It may also be a good choice if this is the first time you are being treated for Graves' disease, if you are younger than 50, or if your thyroid gland is only swollen a little bit (small goiter).

Antithyroid medicine does not damage your thyroid gland. But it doesn't work for everyone, and you may have a relapse.

You are younger than 50 and this is the first time you are being treated for Graves' disease.

You are pregnant, want to become pregnant within 6 months of treatment, or are breast-feeding.

2. Compare your options

Radioactive iodine

Antithyroid medicine

What is usually involved?

You take one dose of this medicine.

Your symptoms start to go away in 8 to 12 weeks.

You will probably need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

You take this medicine every day for 1 to 2 years.

If it works, your symptoms start to go away in 1 to 8 weeks. Your thyroid hormone levels may stay in the normal range even after you stop taking this medicine.

If it doesn't work, you can choose to take radioactive iodine.

What are the benefits?

Most people are cured after one dose.

The medicine is much more effective in people who have mild disease. Up to 30 out of 100 people in the United States will have their hyperthyroidism go away (go into remission) after taking antithyroid medicine for 12 to 18 months.1

Hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) usually develops within a year. Because of this, you will probably need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

This treatment may make thyroid eye disease worse for a while.

Side effects include rash, itching, joint aches, liver problems, and being less able to fight infection because of a low white blood cell count.

Medicine doesn't work for everyone. Relapses are common.

Personal stories

Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide.

Personal stories about treatment for hyperthyroidism

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"Who would have thought that the symptoms I was having were caused by my thyroid gland? I thought that they were just part of growing older. But after I decided to pay attention and wrote down how I felt and told my nurse practitioner, she did blood tests that showed that I had an overactive thyroid gland. Then she referred me to a doctor for treatment. I have never been a guy who liked to take medicine, so I opted to take radioactive iodine. I like the idea that I only had to take it once and then it was over and done with. Now I take thyroid hormone every day. But it's easy to take, and I just see my doctor once or twice a year for monitoring."

— Harry, age 63

"Some people tell me that taking radioactive iodine is the best treatment for my thyroid condition. But I don't like the idea of taking something that's radioactive. Maybe I am too cautious. My doctor tells me that the amount of radioactive iodine is so small that it doesn't cause problems. I just can't get past that word "radioactive." I have decided to take antithyroid pills. I don't think I'll have a problem with them. I have a pretty regular kind of life and take vitamins every day, so remembering to take another pill won't make a big difference to me."

— Jesse, age 52

"I took antithyroid medicine for my overactive thyroid about 2 years ago. I had trouble remembering to take the pills every day, and sometimes when I would go out of town to visit my family, I would forget to take my pills with me. Now, my thyroid is acting up again. I don't want to mess with pills. I worry that I might get some of those side effects from taking medicine. I have decided to take radioactive iodine. I know that I have a risk of hypothyroidism because of this treatment, but I am willing to take thyroid hormone pills if that happens."

— Emilia, age 45

"My neighbor Geraldo took radioactive iodine for his overactive thyroid gland, and his thyroid gland became underactive. So now he has to take thyroid hormones. I guess I'll just skip the radioactive iodine and take pills. Besides, my doctor tells me that because of my age I might even be able to stop taking the pills and never have to take them again. That sounds good to me."

— Penny, age 35

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to take antithyroid medicine

Reasons to take radioactive iodine

I'm worried that radioactive iodine will damage my thyroid and I'll have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of my life.

I can live with the damage to my thyroid, because I know I can take thyroid hormone pills to treat it.

More important

Equally important

More important

I don't mind taking pills for a few years to see if that will fix my thyroid problem.

I want to get my thyroid problem taken care of quickly.

More important

Equally important

More important

I worry more about putting something radioactive into my body than about side effects of antithyroid medicine.

I worry more about side effects of antithyroid medicine than about putting something radioactive into my body.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Taking antithyroid medicine

Taking radioactive iodine

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1. Which treatment is more likely to cure hyperthyroidism?

Antithyroid medicine

Radioactive iodine

Both

I'm not sure

You are right. Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. But this treatment isn't for everyone.

2. When does antithyroid treatment work best?

When symptoms are mild

When symptoms are very bad

Both

I'm not sure

You're right. Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism.

3. Which treatment eventually leads to hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) in most people?

Antithyroid medicine

Radioactive iodine

Both

I'm not sure

You are right. This treatment works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, so they need to take thyroid hormone medicine.

Decide what's next

1. Do you understand the options available to you?

Yes

No

2. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Yes

No

3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Yes

No

Certainty

1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

Not sure at all

Somewhat sure

Very sure

2. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.

I'm ready to take action.

I want to discuss the options with others.

I want to learn more about my options.

Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

Credits

By

Healthwise Staff

Primary Medical Reviewer

E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine

Specialist Medical Reviewer

David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology

References

Citations

Bahn RS, et al. (2011). Hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis: Management guidelines of the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Thyroid, 21(6): 593–646. Also available online: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/full/10.1089/thy.2010.0417.

Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.

Bahn RS, et al. (2011). Hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis: Management guidelines of the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Thyroid, 21(6): 593–646. Also available online: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/full/10.1089/thy.2010.0417.

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